IPC Puts It to a Vote: Asks Who Will Be 2013 IPC APEX EXPO Keynoter?

IPC Puts It to a Vote: Asks Who Will Be 2013 IPC APEX EXPO Keynoter?

Deep Sea Explorer, Physicist, Movie Producer or Astrophysicist?

BANNOCKBURN, Ill., USA, June 11, 2012 — Just as IPC standards are balloted by industry, the decision of who will be the 2013 IPC APEX EXPO Opening Keynote speaker is in the hands of the electronics manufacturing industry. IPC is asking industry to decide who would be the ideal keynote speaker to kick off three days of inspiring information and knowledge at IPC APEX EXPO 2013, February 19–21, in San Diego.

An impressive ballot, the four candidates are: Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, an astrophysicist; Jon Landau, Academy Award-winning producer; Dr. Michio Kaku, a physicist and author; and Dr. Robert Ballard, deep-sea explorer.

Each speaker has stories and experiences that captivate and entertain their audiences, but IPC is hopeful that the voting will determine who can do more than that for the show’s attendees. “IPC APEX EXPO is not just a conference and exhibition,” says IPC President & CEO John W. Mitchell. “It’s an ‘experience.’ Each year committee volunteers and staff work together to design the ideal learning environment that not only encompasses leading experts, top suppliers and breaking and innovative research, but also sets the stage for three days of creative problem solving and ‘Aha’ moments.”

Dr. Tyson’s professional research interests include star formation, exploding stars, dwarf galaxies and the structure of the Milky Way. During the Bush administration, he served on a nine-member commission on the Implementation of the United States Space Exploration Policy and in 2006, he was appointed to serve on NASA’s prestigious Advisory Council. Dr. Tyson also hosted seasons two through five of NOVA scienceNOW.

Jon Landau produced the two highest grossing movies of all-time, Avatar and Titanic. In his engaging presentations, Landau not only shares insight into the film industry and the complex state-of-the-art visual effects technologies, but also discusses the broader perspective of business management, innovative marketing and motivational philosophies, encouraging audiences to be leaders — not just in their careers, but in their lives as well.

Dr. Michio Kaku is an internationally recognized authority on Einstein’s unified field theory which he is attempting to complete, and predicting trends affecting business, commerce, and finance based on the latest research in science. He is the author of several international bestsellers, including Physics of the Future: How Science Will Change Daily Life by 2100.

Among the most accomplished of the world’s deep-sea explorers, Dr. Robert Ballard is best known for his historic discovery of the RMS Titanic 12,000 feet/4,000 meters under the North Atlantic. Using the latest in exploration technology, he has conducted more than 100 deep-sea expeditions leading to many lost legend discoveries, including the German battleship Bismarck, the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, and U.S. President Kennedy’s PT-109.

To learn more about the four keynote candidates and to vote, visit www.IPCAPEXEXPO.org/keynote-vote. Voting will be open until June 22, 2012. The winner of the IPC’s keynote contest will be announced in late August. ■